October 11, 2024 RSP Newsletter
Hello RSP Leaders!
Hello Leaders of the Regional Service Providers! This message is full of information and resources curated for YOU!
Important Information and Updates
Regional Support Networks
Each RSP is in a different stage of planning. Some have already done broad thinking about how their communities will respond to referrals, i.e., how to ensure each child and each center receive the support that is the best fit for their needs. If you are still working on this part of your planning grant, ORIMHA can help! Susan Fisher-Maki and her colleagues at Common Thread are working on behalf of ORIMHA to help RSPs think about how best to configure their regions' supports in ways that will lead to a coordinated community response. You can reach out to Susan directly at susan@commonthreadllc.com
Planning vs Implementation Grants
As we talk with RSPs, we hear questions about which kinds of activities can occur during the planning versus the implementation grant periods. We heard a desire for flexibility to best support your implementation planning. We asked Katrina Miller to provide context and clarity about revising planning contracts to meet your needs:
“The purpose of the planning grants is to give RSPs the time and the space to focus on gaining knowledge about IECMH Consultation, thinking through what will be new or different, and putting systems into place that will support RSPs to be successful with IECMH Consultation service delivery when it starts. While every region already has a network of community connections and partnerships, IECMH Consultation is new content and a new service to add to the existing network. By taking time for planning, we hope this will be helpful in reducing the ‘bumpiness’ when it comes time for new services to begin. In contrast to planning grants, implementation grants will be focused on beginning IECMH Consultation service delivery. This is when IECMH Consultants will begin providing services directly to early learning programs and providers.
DELC intentionally excluded hiring of IECMH Consultants from planning grants to avoid the rush to begin service delivery. However, as RSPs have been moving through the planning process, we’ve heard from several of you how helpful it would be to bring the IECMH Consultant on board sooner than later, both to help with the planning activities and so that the consultant can benefit from being a part of the process. DELC is open to revising planning grants to allow hiring an IECMH Consultant during the planning period and, where needed, adding funds to make that possible.”
Communities of Practice
We had a dynamic virtual CoP session on October 3! Thanks to all who participated sharing questions, knowledge, and perspectives.
You can view a recording of the update from DELC provided by Katrina Miller. Passcode: rZ.^^M7.
Slides from Nichole & Sondra’s presentation can be found here. We covered updates on implementation planning, an overview of what some of the Diversity-Informed Tenets in practice, and culturally responsive practices related to hiring IECMH consultants
At the October 3 meeting, we shared a link to a Mentimeter poll about the frequency of these meetings. If you did not get the chance to weigh in, you can still do so at Mentimeter or scan this code:
Save the Dates
Next Community of Practice (CoP) is November from 9-11 am. There is an agenda for 9-10:30am. Nichole & Sondra stay on from 10:30-11am for an agenda-free “open office” time where we can answer questions and/or set up breakout rooms to foster more connections and collaboration.
To join: Zoom link CoP for RSP
Meeting ID: 817 7555 3096
Passcode: 847022
ORIMHA is hosting an in-person CoP for RSPs on November 14 from 2:00-5:00 pm and November 15 from 8:30 am-4:00 pm at the Portland Marriott. Travel and lodging expenses are covered by RSP planning grant funds from DELC. Thursday will review and celebrate the work of ORIMHA to date and an overview of our critical work moving forward on Friday. Please plan to have at least one representative from your RSP there to take the next critical step in the implementation planning for this project!
Our CoP on March 6, 2025 will be a longer session that will allow us to go deeper as you are moving closer to the end of the fiscal year. We will be virtual for this session, and will meet from 9a-2pm via Zoom that day. Be on the lookout for an updated meeting invite for this date.
We can’t wait to connect in the spring! The next in-person CoP is scheduled for Thursday May 1, 2025 from 9am-4pm. We look forward to hosting this meeting in a more centralized location, most likely in Bend. Mark your calendars!
Big Picture
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation is not a mental health intervention, but it is consultation intended to promote infant and early childhood mental health; i.e., the early relational health of infants and young children.
Resources
We highly recommend "The Intersection of Leadership and Vulnerability: Making the Case for Reflective Supervision/Consultation for Policy and Systems Leaders” written by Meghan Schmelzer and Faith Eidson for the Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health.
The Story of the O’s can be found on YouTube. It is a lovely (and brief) video that illustrates the importance of reflective supervision and reminds us to slow down and honor family relationships. (And these themes connect to the role of IECMH Consultation too).
New resources on the way!
We recognize that lots of questions can arise between monthly CoPs. Sondra and Nichole will soon be sharing a link that will enable RSPs to schedule 1:1 meetings to support you with implementation planning.
And - we hear you! Messaging about IECMH Consultation is a challenge. ORIMHA is developing a messaging slide deck for you to use, borrow from, and/or adapt when you are talking with your constituencies about IECMH Consultation. We will include material that addresses the question, “So what does IECMH Consultation actually look like in practice?”. In the meantime, don’t forget you have access to ORIMHA’s answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) [scroll to bottom of page] and DELC’s answers to FAQs [scroll to the bottom of the page for this one too].
Your RSP Implementation Support Team,
Nichole Paradis nichole@or-imha.org
Sondra Stegenga sondra.stegenga@utah.edu